Language, Syntax, and the Natural Sciences

Presents an exploration of human language from the perspective of the natural sciences.

Ángel J. Gallego (Edited by), Roger Martin (Edited by)

9781316606711, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 27 February 2020

380 pages
23 x 15.3 x 2 cm, 0.6 kg

Language, apart from its cultural and social dimension, has a scientific side that is connected not only to the study of 'grammar' in a more or less traditional sense, but also to disciplines like mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology. This book explores developments in linguistic theory, looking in particular at the theory of generative grammar from the perspective of the natural sciences. It highlights the complex and dynamic nature of language, suggesting that a comprehensive and full understanding of such a species-specific property will only be achieved through interdisciplinary work.

Introduction Ángel J. Gallego and Roger Martin
Part I. The Computational Component: 1. Deriving multiple 'object' constructions Tonia Bleam and Norbert Hornstein
2. Verbal complex formation and overt subjects in infinitival complexes in Romance Francisco Ordóñez
3. Two families of questions Howard Lasnik
4. Context sensitive aspects of constituent negation Ricardo Etxepare and Myriam Uribe-Etxebarria
5. Phasehood and Romance adverbial because-clauses Esther Torrego
6. No-choice parameters, phi-features and the structure of DP Ian Roberts
Part II. Interfaces: 7. Linearizing chains at LF Jairo Nunes
8. On the rationality of grammar Wolfram Hinzen
9. The warped forge Pablo Bustos and Juan Romero
10. Limiting semantic types Paul Pietroski
11. Why is phonology different? No recursion William Idsardi
12. Nothing in linguistics makes sense except in the light of change David Lightfoot
13. Neurology and experience: the language organ and externalization Carlos P. Otero
Part III. Linguistics and Other Sciences: 14. My head's in knots: on Uriagereka's generalization and the knot-sentence connection Sergio Balari, Antonio Benítez-Burraco, Marta Camps, Víctor M. Longa and Guillermo Lorenzo
15. (Neural) syntax Cedric Boeckx and Constantina Theofanopoulou
16. Syntax and uncertainty Douglas Saddy
17. The Golden phrase: steps to the physics of language Massimo Piattelli-Palmarini and David Medeiros
18. Science, mind, and limits of understanding Noam Chomsky.

Subject Areas: Computational linguistics [CFX], Grammar, syntax & morphology [CFK], Phonetics, phonology [CFH], Linguistics [CF]